ITR Filing Deadline 2026: Keep in mind, the last date for all taxpayers is not 31 July. ITR Filing Deadline 2026 New Last Date For Different Class Income Tax Return Form

If you file Income Tax Return (ITR) every year in July without thinking, then this time you need to pay a little attention. The government has made a major change in the ITR filing deadline for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27, which includes income for Financial Year (FY) 2025-26. Now July 31 will not be the last date for all taxpayers. The deadline to file your ITR will depend on which ITR form you file.

ITR Filing Deadline 2026: When is the deadline for which ITR form?

The rules for ITR filing have been changed in Budget 2026. Earlier, there was only one last date of 31st July for most taxpayers, but now this will not be the case.

Deadline for filing ITR-1 and ITR-2

If you are a salaried employee, pensioner or investor and file ITR-1 or ITR-2, then the last date for you will remain 31 July 2026. This usually includes those people whose sources of income are salary, pension, interest, capital gains, income from one or two houses.

One month relief for those filing ITR-3 and ITR-4

People whose income comes from business or profession and whose accounts are not required to be tax audited will now get more time. Taxpayers who file ITR-3 or ITR-4 will now be able to submit their returns till August 31, 2026. The people who will benefit the most from this decision include freelancers, consultants, doctors, lawyers, small businessmen, partners of partnership firms and taxpayers covered under the presumptive taxation scheme. Getting additional one month’s time will facilitate them in bookkeeping, reconciliation of accounts and preparing returns properly.

No change in deadlines for tax audit and transfer pricing cases

For cases where tax audit is mandatory, the time limit will remain the same.

• ITR deadline for tax audit cases: 31 October 2026
• Last date for submission of audit report: 30 September 2026
• At the same time, for the cases where Transfer Pricing is applicable, the last date for filing ITR will remain 30 November 2026.

Now you will get more time to file revised ITR

The government has also extended the deadline for filing revised returns. Earlier taxpayers had to file revised returns by December 31. Now from AY 2026-27, it has been extended to 31 March 2027, which is also the last day of the assessment year. This means that if you notice a mistake after submitting the return, you will have more time than before to correct it. For example, if any claim under Section 80C has been missed, if there is a difference between AIS and return, if there is any mistake in reporting any income or information, then you will now be able to easily amend it.

What will be the loss if late ITR is filed?

If you do not file ITR by the stipulated time, not only late fees but many other losses can also occur. Belated returns can be filed till December 31, 2026. But for this..

• Under section 234F, late fees up to Rs 5,000 will have to be paid.
• If the total income is less than Rs 5 lakh, the late fee will be Rs 1,000.
• Interest will also have to be paid on the outstanding tax.

These rights can also be taken away if returns are filed late.

• The impact of not filing ITR on time is not limited to fine only. If you file your return late, you may lose your option to choose the old tax regime.
• You can be considered in the default new tax regime.
• The right to carry forward certain types of losses to subsequent years may also be lost. Therefore it is very important to file ITR on time.

Why is AY 2026-27 special?

AY 2026-27 is important for another reason. This will be the last season to file ITR under the Income Tax Act, 1961. Although the Income Tax Act, 2025 has come into effect from April 1, 2026, the returns to be filed this year will still be filed under the old law. ITR will be filed as per the new law from next year.